Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, met with Shri Sunil Handunnetti, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi, to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation in mineral exploration and mining. The discussions focused on securing critical minerals vital for economic and industrial growth, with a particular emphasis on Sri Lanka’s rich graphite and beach sand mineral deposits, which are crucial for clean energy, battery technologies, and high-tech industries.
Both leaders acknowledged the need to strengthen collaboration, exploring opportunities for Indian companies to engage in Sri Lanka’s mineral sector. Union Minister Shri Dubey highlighted India’s National Critical Mineral Mission, which aims to secure essential raw materials such as lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, and copper to support the country’s renewable energy goals. He emphasized India’s efforts in granting mining rights, forming global partnerships, and encouraging Indian enterprises to acquire mineral assets abroad. Discussions also covered Government-to-Government (G2G) mineral exploration, with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) expressing interest in conducting mineral assessments in Sri Lanka. Additionally, Sri Lanka urged India to facilitate Indian investment in its beach sand and graphite resources.
The meeting also reviewed progress on finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “Cooperation in the Field of Geology and Mineral Resources” between India’s Ministry of Mines and Sri Lanka’s Geological Survey & Mines Bureau. Union Minister Shri Dubey expressed confidence that the MoU, once formalized, would establish a strong framework for capacity building, mining exploration, and advanced mineral processing. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka in skill development, knowledge sharing, and modernizing its mining industry with technological and financial assistance.
Union Minister Shri Dubey emphasized the long-standing partnership between India and Sri Lanka, stating that enhanced cooperation in the mining sector would further strengthen economic ties. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides agreeing to accelerate the formalization of agreements and explore new opportunities for collaboration in the mineral sector.